SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga – Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday night led the province’s officials in endorsing the presidential bid of former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM) of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) before more or less 250,000 supporters who attended the UniTeam festival rally here.

Arroyo, a former Speaker who earlier endorsed the vice presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, said Marcos was also endorsed by the influential Pineda clans led by the mother-and-son tandem of Gov. Dennis Pineda and Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda, four congressmen and 20 mayors of Pampanga.

“Mahal kong cabalen (kababayan), Kapampangan mga kaibigan, sa ngalan ni Governor Delta Pineda, sa ngalan ni Vice Governor Nanay Baby Pindea, sa ngalan ng apat na congressmen ng Pampanga, sa ngalan ng dalawampung mayor ng Pampanga, ito na po ang susunod na Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.,” Arroyo told the crowd in a rally held at Robinsons Grounds here.

Fresh from barnstorming Northern Mindanao, Marcos and Duterte returned to Pampanga to solidify the support of this vote-rich province in Central Luzon.

A mammoth crowd attended the campaign rally as Arroyo, the Pinedas, and other provincial and local officials of Pampanga mounted the political gathering, preferably the province’s last for the UniTeam as the campaign winds down to barely ten days before the presidential elections.

The show of support by Arroyo and the Pinedas for the candidacies of Marcos and Duterte was overwhelming, as shown by the huge number of supporters who crammed the rally site and filled it to overflowing capacity.

Arroyo is a party-mate of Duterte, who is running as vice president under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

The Davao City mayor is also the chairperson of Lakas-CMD and regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP).

Duterte thanked the Kapampangans as she expressed confidence in winning the race because of their very generous support to UniTeam.

“Maraming salamat, mahal ko kayo, mahalin natin ang Pilipinas! Kapag sinabi ng mga Kapampangan na panalo na ang Bisaya, malakas ang loob ko mananalo ako! Maraming salamat,” Duterte said.

Both Marcos and Duterte read one of the placards from a supporter stating “excited na kaming pumunta ng EDSA para sa victory party.”

The 11 UniTeam senatorial candidates, namely Herbert Bautista, Win Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, Migz Zubiri, Gibo Teodoro, Harry Roque, Larry Gadon, Jinggoy Estrada, Gringo Honasan, Mark Villar, and Robin Padilla attended the rally.

Even Deputy Speaker and Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who withdrew from the Senate race, delivered his speech, reassuring his continued support for the entire UniTeam.

Duterte asked their supporters to vote straight for the 11 UniTeam senatorial candidates.

“Ipinapakiusap namin sa inyo, kung boboto kayo ng Marcos-Duterte bumoto kayo ng UniTeam senators,” Duterte said.

Duterte also called on the people to work with them for their plans and programs to succeed.

“Una ang pagbabalik ng mga trabaho at negosyo na nawala dahil sa pandemiya, may bakuna, may mask, may Mulnopiravir, dapat po hindi natin nila-lockdown ang mga trabaho at negosyo ng mga tao at dapat po para tayo hindi mag-lockdown dahil sa surge kunin na natin ang ating mga booster shot o pangatlong bakuna natin ng COVID-19 na nandidyan na po ‘yan sa mga vaccination centers ninyo,” Duterte said.

“Pangalawa po ay kalidad ng edukasyon ng ating mga anak, dapat po world-class o global ang standard ng kalidad ng edukasyon ng ating bansa, dahil ito po ang sandigan ng magandang kinabukasan para sa ating mga anak. Pangatlo kung ano ang gusto ng lahat, hindi lang ng mga Pilipino, mapayapang pamumuhay sa ating mga komunidad na tayo ay nagta-trabaho, nag-nenegosyo na hindi tayo takot na merong gumawa ng masama sa atin,” she added.

For his part, Marcos also expressed his deep gratitude to Arroyo, Pampanga’s officials, and Kapampangans for their support to UniTeam Friday night.

“Maraming-maraming salamat Pampanga sa napaka-init na salubong na inyong ibinigay sa UniTeam at sa tambalang Marcos at Duterte. Basta’t magiging totoo ‘yan, basta’t walang iwanan! Walang iwanan dahil tayo ay nagkaisa na, totoo rin ‘yan, dapat siguro walang tulugan dahil alam naman natin ang daming mga nangyayari habang tayo ay natutulog, kaya’t magpapahanap ako ng katakot-takot na kape, ipapadala ko sa inyo para hindi na tayo matulog,” Marcos said.

“Alam niyo po, e dapat e gabi na dapat malamig-lamig na ang hangin, ngunit hindi na po natin maramdaman ‘yung lamig ng hangin dahil masyado pong mainit ang pagsalubong ninyo sa UniTeam. Tama ‘yan isigaw ninyo para maging maliwanag sa buong Pilipinas na dito sa Pampanga buo, solid ang suporta sa UniTeam at sa tambalang Marcos-Duterte!” Marcos stressed.

“Maraming salamat at kanina po, kanina pong may araw pa e tinitignan po namin, pinipicturan ng drone na napakaraming tao dito at sabi ko talaga naman magiging masaya ang ating rally dito sa Pampanga,” Marcos said.